Tree-protector



(No Model.)

I. MOMASTER.

TREE PROTEGTOR.

No. 329,926. Patented Nov. 10., 1885.

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* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKlVIOMASTER, OF OHERRYVALE, KANSAS.

TREE-PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329.926, dated November10, 1885.

Application filed June 11, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK MOMAsTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cherryvale, in the county of Montgomery and State of Kansas,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tree-Protectors, of whichthe followingis aspecification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to tree-protectors; and it has for its object toprovide a device of this character which will protect the trees from theravages of worms and insects and from the damaging influences of the sunand wind.

With this end in View the said invention consists in certain details ofconstruction and novel combination of parts, as will be hereinafter morefully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showingmyimproved treeprotector applied in position. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the protector detached from the tree, and showing itextended as when applying in position. Fig. 3 is a perspective Viewshowing the protector in its folded position. Fig. 4 is a horizontalsect-ion on the line as m, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing moreclearly the connection at the meeting ends of the protector.

Like letters are used to indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the body of my improvedtree-protector, which consists of a series of wooden slats or verticaluprights, a, connected at suitable intervals along their length by wiresb b, grooves or slots at being provided on the side edges of theuprights or slats, in which grooves are seated the said wires. As willbe seen, the wire b extends across the outer face of the first slat andthe inner face of the second slat, and the wire 1) extends across theinner face of the first slat and the outer face of the second slat, andso on alternately throughout the series, the wires 6 b crossing eachother once at the meeting edges of the slats, but not twisted togetheras is usually the case. By this connection the inclosing-bands formed bythe wires will not fit the slats closely, but will be allowed to yieldin folding the protector together for transportation and other purposes.

Two or more of the slats or uprights may Serial No. 168,397. (No model.)

be extended below the others, as at e, these extensions being adapted tobe driven into the ground in securing the protector in place around thetree.

The wires 7) b, at the meeting ends of the body of the protector, areformed With eyes ff, the eyef on one end overlapping and registeringwith the eye f on the adjacent end, a vertical bar, B, being passedthrough the several eyes and driven at its lower end into the ground. Bythis arrangement the body of the protector is secured firmly together atits meeting ends, (where the greatest strain comes,) and may be readilydetached at will by simply withdrawing the bar B. I have shown this baras driven into the ground to make the connection more secure; but itwill be apparent that said bar may simply connect the eyes f f and notbe embedded in the ground, and in that case the upper end of the barshould have a head or angular bend formed thereon to prevent it fromslipping down through the eyes.

The operation of my invention will be read ily understood from theforegoing description, taken in connection with the annexed drawings.

The protector is adjusted in position by passing it around the treeuntil the eyes on the meeting ends of the body register with each other,when the bar B is slipped down through the eyes and driven into theground. This secures the protector together around the tree; and toprovide additional security the extended ends 6 of the slats are forcedinto the ground. In this manner the protector will be proof againstaccidental detachment, the extension 6 being firmly embedded in theground so that the lower ends of the adjacent slats will rest upon thesurface thereof. After the protector has been adjusted in position,slaked lime or ashes are thrown inside the protector, so as to cover thesurface of the ground around the base of the tree, and thus preventworms or insects from injuring the same. Since the lower ends of theslats rest on the surface of the ground, the lime or ashes Within theprotector cannot be blown away.

By the peculiar method of construction the slats are brought closetogether, and at the same time are allowed to bend or yield in foldingthe protector for transportation. Since the wires are not twistedtightly together,'the bands which inclose the slats will yield while theprotector is being folded. In this manner the strain on the Wires istaken off, and the protector may be folded into a very small space, asshown in Fig. 3, without injury to any of the parts.

In place of the bar B, with the eyes ff, I

may substitute a hook-and-eye connection; but

I prefer the construction shown, since by reason of the same theconnection is made with greater ease, and is more secure in everyrespect. 7

My improvement is not intended to be used as an ordinary tree-box, butis designed espe: cially to protect the trees from the depredations ofworms and from the action of the sun and Wind.

Having described-my'invention, I claim The hereindescribedtree-protector, comprising a series of slats having grooves d in theirside edges, two or more of said slats having extensions 6, a series ofWires crossing each other'once. at the meetingedges of the slats andextending over the outer and inner faces thereof alternately, eyesformed on the meeting endsof the wires, and a bar for connecting theeyes, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have heretofaffixedmy signature in 30 presence of two witnesses. V

FRANK MOMASTER. I

Witnesses: v

JAMES. H. BAIR, THAD. O.'HIsTED. 7

